1. Is the tubing important?
The tubing is the pump chamber. The elasticity of the tubing provides suction lift; its strength provides pressure handling ability; its flexible characteristics determine pumping life; its bore determines the flow rate, and its wall thickness determines pumping efficiency.
To ensure accurate flow rates and long tubing life, use only Masterflex Pump Tubing in your pump tubing applications. Masterflex Pump tubing is your best choice because, unlike general purpose commodity tubing, it is specifically designed and precision extruded to meet tight tolerances for use in Masterflex peristaltic pumps. Masterflex tubing will help you achieve top performance and comply with numerous standards and classifications.
2. What temperature ranges of materials can be pumped?
Optimum temperature range is from 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C). The max temperature range is from -40 to 302°F (-40 to 150°C) for tubing and from 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C) for the pump head.
3. What is the chemical resistance?
Depends on tubing style (see Tubing and Chemical Compatibility Database).
4. What determines tubing life?
Many factors have an effect on tubing life. Pump speed, and system pressure, tubing material and chemical compatibility, abrasiveness of the liquid (media) being pumped, temperature of the fluid, and even the environment the pump is in have an effect. Visit our STAMP tubing guide for the step-by-step recommendation process followed by our applications team.
5. What tubing formulation has the longest lifespan?
Norprene*, PharMed* BPT, Pharmapure, Puri-Flex, Tygon E-LFL*, silicone, C-FLEX**, and Viton***, in that order.
6. How does pump speed affect tubing lifespan?
Tubing lifespan is inversely proportional to pump speed. Minimum speed gives maximum life.
7. Is the tubing compatible for food and sterile applications?
Yes. Some tubing formulations meet NSF specifications and FDA and USDA requirements for food handling. Many can be sterilized.
8. Is the tubing difficult to replace?
No, tube replacement is actually very simple. The EASY-LOAD®, EASY-LOAD II®, High-Performance, cartridge, and RAPID-LOAD® pump heads make tubing changes quick and easy. With the Standard pump head, tubing is easy to change using the loading key provided.